Welcome to: The Freak Show !

After a year of creativity, stress, fun, haphazard blogging, and artistic exploration, I've finally made it: The Freak Show is now open! Words cannot express how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to make the kind of art that I want to make and I am head over heals for some of these pieces. I really enjoy looking back and seeing how I've improved (and you can too because these pictures are in order from first made to last made). My anatomical accuracy and ability to sculpt expression has greatly improved and along with it, my sense of self as an artist has become a little more defined. This year has been very interesting and quite tumultuous both inside and outside of the studio but in the end, I discovered the type of art that I like to do and I have uncovered some of my talents (and many of my weaknesses). So before the suspense kills you any longer...

Welcome to the Freak Show !

I. The Fortune Teller

II. The Strongman

 III. The Conjoined Twins

IV. The Trapeze Artist

V. The Ringmaster

VI. The Grey Clown

VII. The Wild Woman

Concentration VII: The Wild Woman - Glazing Process

Ever since the beginning of this concept, I had envisioned The Wild Woman with a strong black stripe across her eyes as her makeup... unfortunately when put to practice she looked more like a strange ninja than a fierce woman trying to escape her captors.

So I scrapped the idea and went for a lighter red line along her nose and cheeks as well as on her chin so that her expression was not overpowered by her face paint.

I then topped the whole look off with a finished paint job on the wolf pelt and red hair and green eyes on the woman.

Concentration VII: The Wild Woman - Construction

Concentration VI: The Clown - Glazing Process

My whole life I have been moderately terrified of clowns with big red noses, frightening makeup, obnoxious antics, and a cacophony of colors. I realized when brainstorming this character the immense pressure to "reinvent" the classic clown character. There have been so many varied depictions of the frightening funnyman that were really making my head spin. But I soon realized that I had never seen a clown that lacked all of its many colors and then it was decided, the grey clown would be born. 

I first glazed the entire sculpture black and then wiped off the excess with a sponge.

I finished by adding a simple layer of black and white makeup with red accents while avoiding covering up his sad expression.

And voila! The Clown came to life in all his sadness and grayscale glory!